Learn / Editing and workflow / Lesson 85
Lesson 85 of 100

Basic colour correction

Course archive date: 2026-08-10   |   Carl Cooper LRPS

Editing should support the photograph rather than rescue every mistake. Start with small, deliberate changes and keep comparing the result with the original.

No prior knowledge needed. Keep your camera or phone beside you and try each control or idea as it appears. The aim is understanding, not memorising terminology.

Why colour changes

Different light sources have different colour characteristics. Your eyes adapt quickly, but a camera has to decide how neutral objects should be rendered. White balance is the camera's way of making that decision.

Auto white balance

Auto White Balance is a sensible starting point and modern cameras are often very good at it. Presets such as Daylight, Cloudy, Shade and Tungsten deliberately tell the camera what sort of light it is seeing.

RAW and white balance

With RAW files, white balance can usually be changed very freely during editing because the original capture data is retained. With JPEG or HEIF, the camera has already committed much more strongly to its processing.

Now prove it with the practical

OPEN THE PRACTICAL